The German chancellor’s reaction to US President Donald Trump’s threats against Spain shows Berlin’s “weakness,” Yolanda Diaz told Politico

Germany has become an American “vassal” under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz has said, criticizing his response to US President Donald Trump’s threats against Spain.

Relations between Spain and Germany have been strained over the past week due to what Madrid described as a lack of solidarity from Berlin. The tensions followed an incident in early March, when the German chancellor remained silent during a visit to Washington as Trump, sitting next to him in the Oval Office, threatened to cut off “all trade” with Spain.

The US president justified his threat by citing what he characterized as Madrid’s inadequate defense spending and its refusal to allow American forces to use joint military bases in Spain for strikes on Iran.

Merz’s actions show he is one of the EU leaders “who have no idea how to manage the historic moment we’re living in,” Diaz told Politico on Monday. “What Europe needs today is leadership, not vassals who pay homage to Trump.”

If we want, we can just fly to the Spanish bases and use them without permission – Trump. pic.twitter.com/5CHIVF7mON

— Jürgen Nauditt

Source: RT - Daily news